Things You'll Need:
- Slips of Paper for Names
- Bowl to put slips in
- Questionnaires for each employee
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Step 1
Send The Invite and Rules:
The first thing you will need to do is send an email or go around and ask your coworkers who would like to participate. You should probably do this right after Thanksgiving so everyone has almost a month to buy a gift. Write in the email the date of the gift exchange (usually coincides with the annual holiday office party) the rules of the game and write down the maximum amount to be spent.
This can be strictly up to you, but the average is usually around $20.00. Be sure to put this in the email so everyone knows the limit.
Also remember to not put any undo pressure on anyone. Some might not want to participate due to religious or financial reasons and the object of this game is to keep it fun. You don't want to make anyone uncomfortable. -
Step 2
Send Out The Questionnaire:
Once you have all of the names of the participants, give them each a questionnaire to complete. Make sure you write their name on the top of the paper before handing it to them (you will be amazed at how many you will get back without names if you do not do this.) Write down the following questions or something similar.
Favorite Food, Favorite Candy, Favorite Restaurant, Favorite Books or Authors, Favorite Hobby, Favorite Music or Artist, Favorite Stores to Shop, Favorite Movie You Would Like to Own, Favorite Magazines, Favorite Movie Star, Favorite Television Show and Favorite Sports Team.
This will give the buyer plenty of options to find the perfect gift at the right price. -
Step 3
Collect All The Questionnaires
Collect all of the questionnaires (again making sure everyone's name is on top.) -
Step 4
Write Down Coworkers Names on Slips of Paper
Now write every paticipant's name down on a small piece of paper, fold them and put them in a bowl. -
Step 5
Have Each Participant Pick Out a Name
Walk around and have each coworker pick a name out of the bowl. Then ask them to go through the questionnaires and pick the corresponding name. It is important that this is kept totally secret. -
Step 6
Send a Secret Santa Party Reminder
About a week before the planned party, be sure to send a reminder of the date of the Secret Santa party so the people who forgot about it still have time to shop.
Also be sure to check and see if anyone will be on vacation the day of the party so you can get their gift early. This way the recipient won't be the only person without a gift because their giver is not in that day. -
Step 7
Remind Them It's a Secret
Tell everyone that the gifts they buy should be wrapped and only the receivers name should be on the package, not who it came from. -
Step 8
Gather All the Gifts
Put all the gifts in one place and have everyone gather around at a certain time. Hand out the gifts to each person. (If anyone is on vacation - simply put their gift away someplace safe until they return.) -
Step 9
Have Fun Opening!
Try and keep it a secret. This however would be up to your personal discretion. Some prefer to keep it a secret, some like to try and guess who bought who what gift. Just let the party flow in the natural direction that people take it. They might have just as much fun trying to guess who bought their gift as much as they enjoy the gift they received.
